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Art spotlight: Russia -- a photographic journey

RUSSIA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY

Last update: August 10, 2007 - 5:17 PM

RUSSIA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY

Closing soon: Under normal circumstances, the Museum of Russian Art is one of Minneapolis' easiest-access cultural venues because it overlooks Interstate 35W, but access at Diamond Lake Road is closed for freeway reconstruction. While getting to the museum has become a challenge, it's well worth the trouble. The museum has a fascinating show of large-scale photos of contemporary Russia by Andrew L. Moore of New York. Moore has a fabulous eye for design and detail, and seems to have had unparalleled access to everything from private apartments in St. Petersburg, to costume closets at the Kirov Ballet, to abandoned missile sites in remote villages. His stunning color photos (shown is "Misha and Vladimir," taken at a private zoo at Lake Baikal in 2003) document a country undergoing dramatic economic and political changes. And be sure to check out the museum's collection of Soviet-era paintings about the country's agrarian traditions. (Shows end Sept. 1. $5 adults. 5500 Stevens Av. S., Mpls. 612-821-9045. www.tmora.org.)

MARY ABBE